First UK - France flight
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I did it solo the first time. Never did see the channel, though, it was cliff-to-cliff fog down there. (Yes I was flying 1' below CAS, and yes I could, at least in theory, glide to land from any point.)
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"Another that should be carried at all times is the military intercept card rare to be intercepted but going international you might be."
Dover to Calais? It's equally likely you'll be abducted by aliens, frankly.
"Oh and if anyone is carrying loads of cash, rare with cost of flying declare if ask or another fine."
EU limit is 10K EUR in cash - not sure why you'd need this much on your flight to France either...
If the weather isn't great, don't go - otherwise don't sweat it. It's an easy trip (as you'll realise once you've done it!).
Dover to Calais? It's equally likely you'll be abducted by aliens, frankly.
"Oh and if anyone is carrying loads of cash, rare with cost of flying declare if ask or another fine."
EU limit is 10K EUR in cash - not sure why you'd need this much on your flight to France either...
If the weather isn't great, don't go - otherwise don't sweat it. It's an easy trip (as you'll realise once you've done it!).
Yes the limit on cash is high and they can not stop you carrying it BUT it must be declared if not a 10% at least fine, it is to stop money laundering.
So Sam the point was the actual need for these is very low but the French police know every bit of paper you need to be legal and see ramp checks as a money making exercise.
Better to be prepared than having your day ruined visiting some French police station and it does happen.
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For those unaware, having the Interception Procedures on board is quite simple in practice.
Either print, or download and keep on your phone/tablet, CAA Safety Sense Leaflet 11.
Either print, or download and keep on your phone/tablet, CAA Safety Sense Leaflet 11.
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If I'm pretty sure it's somewhere in the Pooley's which is in the flight bag on the back seat out of my reach is that good enough? Don't/shouldn't interceptors have 121.5 anyway?
Don't/shouldn't interceptors have 121.5 anyway?
Also, I never heard of this requirement to carry an "intercept card", could this be just one more UK-only oddity? Not that it isn't a good idea, though, but there is already such a lot of paraphernalia to be carried...
Last edited by Jan Olieslagers; 11th May 2018 at 18:01.
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It's not a UK only requirement.
Source: The Skyway Code (p140)
Interception procedures
Interception is a very unusual event to occur to a GA aircraft; however it is a requirement for EASA aircraft flying under Part-NCO and for all aircraft flying internationally to carry the interception procedures specified in ICAO Annex 2 (Rules of the Air) and the SERA. These are reproduced below.
...
Interception is a very unusual event to occur to a GA aircraft; however it is a requirement for EASA aircraft flying under Part-NCO and for all aircraft flying internationally to carry the interception procedures specified in ICAO Annex 2 (Rules of the Air) and the SERA. These are reproduced below.
...
* First, do your “Channel Rating” with a friendly ATO
* Make sure both your HF radios are functional and you have SELCAL with Lydd Control
* If the above doesn’t work CPDLC with Maastricht will suffice
* Carry a drum of avgas on the passenger seat, for refuelling mid-Channel
* Left mag out, right mag back
* Inflate the tyres to maximum pressure with Helium, to ensure flotation
* Wear a dinner jacket under your survival gear, just in case you have to ditch near the QM2 and are invited to the captain’s table
* When you get to the other side, remember to speak slowly and loudly as their English is not as good as ours
Bon Voyage!
* Make sure both your HF radios are functional and you have SELCAL with Lydd Control
* If the above doesn’t work CPDLC with Maastricht will suffice
* Carry a drum of avgas on the passenger seat, for refuelling mid-Channel
* Left mag out, right mag back
* Inflate the tyres to maximum pressure with Helium, to ensure flotation
* Wear a dinner jacket under your survival gear, just in case you have to ditch near the QM2 and are invited to the captain’s table
* When you get to the other side, remember to speak slowly and loudly as their English is not as good as ours
Bon Voyage!
I'm with FullWings, only add a Kalashnikov and a few grenades.
Indeed, add a pallet of bricks and a bag of cement for extra protection on the ground if needed.
Sorry people, it's FRANCE - not Syria.
And, despite a few thousand hours flying to all the murkiest corners (both legally and otherwise) of our beautiful planet, I have neither been intercepted nor been asked for an intercept card... Flying to France: Call the airfield first to check the restaurant is open, file flight plan, go... (add GAR to this process for your return to the UK)
Indeed, add a pallet of bricks and a bag of cement for extra protection on the ground if needed.
Sorry people, it's FRANCE - not Syria.
And, despite a few thousand hours flying to all the murkiest corners (both legally and otherwise) of our beautiful planet, I have neither been intercepted nor been asked for an intercept card... Flying to France: Call the airfield first to check the restaurant is open, file flight plan, go... (add GAR to this process for your return to the UK)
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I would try UK to Ostende, either direct or to france and follow the coatline, much more fun nd challenging that the usual first time channel crossings. Tkat a survival knife if you carry a liferaft, in case it inflates in flight. This is an accident waiting to happen. I'm not sure where you obtain the survable sea temperatures these days, the RAF used to have tehem. But common sense would be to wear surval suits from November to May, not that many SEP pilots do. Crossing at above gliding distance is the other sensible option, wx and controlled airspace permitted.
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I had been flying eight years before I did my first crops-channel flight in 2016. It waited until I was in a share because I was blowed if was paying to go to Le Touquet with an instructor when I was in a club. That aside, when I did it, it was no different from any other flight. Follow the legal requirements for stuff you must carry and what you must tell the authorities and you'll be fine. I would support anchohold in suggesting Belgium. My first foreign stop (well not counting going to Donegal from Derry which is officially international) was the marvellous Kortrijk. After reading so much about prior-notice and such like with France, it was no effort at all to continue the extra (small) distance to Belgium. My post-flight report at the time said:
"Stopped here twice on a continental trip recently. A near perfect small airfield. Self-service fuel pumps next to the terminal. A quick passport check to enter Schengen then up to the tower to sign-in. The airfield takes no money on the day, you sign in, log the amount of fuel taken and wait for an invoice in the post. EBKT proved to be an excellent destination. It has border control facilities, a good size hard runway, instrument approaches for those with full IR plus both a flying club bar and an excellent high quality restaurant called Biggles. In addition to plenty of light GA, there are based business jets and I think over in one corner a small military facility (we could see a Skyvan / SD3-30 and a Gazelle). We twice ate well at the Biggles sitting in the sun on the first-floor balcony . The flying club bar and the control tower are built onto what I take to be a German wartime concrete bunker. The Bell X1 hotel is 100m from the airport buildings. It proved to be as good as it looked on its web site and had the added interest of rooms named for pilots (and in one case a RAF aircraft repair unit which was based there in 1944 / 5). The building itself is a rather interesting between the wars design. The only slight disappointment was a rather thin breakfast."
I have a vague memory that the instrument approaches have since been withdrawn.
"Stopped here twice on a continental trip recently. A near perfect small airfield. Self-service fuel pumps next to the terminal. A quick passport check to enter Schengen then up to the tower to sign-in. The airfield takes no money on the day, you sign in, log the amount of fuel taken and wait for an invoice in the post. EBKT proved to be an excellent destination. It has border control facilities, a good size hard runway, instrument approaches for those with full IR plus both a flying club bar and an excellent high quality restaurant called Biggles. In addition to plenty of light GA, there are based business jets and I think over in one corner a small military facility (we could see a Skyvan / SD3-30 and a Gazelle). We twice ate well at the Biggles sitting in the sun on the first-floor balcony . The flying club bar and the control tower are built onto what I take to be a German wartime concrete bunker. The Bell X1 hotel is 100m from the airport buildings. It proved to be as good as it looked on its web site and had the added interest of rooms named for pilots (and in one case a RAF aircraft repair unit which was based there in 1944 / 5). The building itself is a rather interesting between the wars design. The only slight disappointment was a rather thin breakfast."
I have a vague memory that the instrument approaches have since been withdrawn.
Yup, EBKT is back in business, super-friendly, just the right size - the cops always have a huge smile and are there during normal hours. Plus Biggles is a real restaurant - it would be a success if it wasn't at the airport which is not always the case with airport restos. So, go, enjoy!
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Got back yesterday and ended up going to Le Touqet!
All I needed was a Flight Plan and a GAR form for UK Border Force
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!
All I needed was a Flight Plan and a GAR form for UK Border Force
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!
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How did you notify French Customs in/out of Schengen at Le Touquet
File a flight plan, head south and enjoy the trip.
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5 points to hoodie and -3 to strake.
I know you can usually get away with not notifying French Customs, particularly on the way out of Schengen.
However, why take the chance when, in the case of Le Touquet, you can notify Customs as little as two hours in advance!
I know you can usually get away with not notifying French Customs, particularly on the way out of Schengen.
However, why take the chance when, in the case of Le Touquet, you can notify Customs as little as two hours in advance!